Technology allows journalists to work outside office

Saturday

Mar 2, 2013 at 12:01 AM

I used birthday money from my parents and somewhat reluctantly bought a new VCR/DVD-R unit recently. Our old one quit powering on a few months ago, and I debated whether to replace it. But we still have a few videotapes, including our wedding, that I would not have a way to watch without a VCR.

Chad Killebrew

I used birthday money from my parents and somewhat reluctantly bought a new VCR/DVD-R unit recently. Our old one quit powering on a few months ago, and I debated whether to replace it. But we still have a few videotapes, including our wedding, that I would not have a way to watch without a VCR.Like eight-track tapes and cassettes, videotapes are on the wane. I really just wanted to buy an inexpensive VCR, since my sons' PlayStation 3 and our computer will play DVDs. But it's almost impossible to find those for sale anymore, and I didn't really want to buy one used.My goal is to make digital copies of our wedding video and a couple of other videotapes. That technology seems like it will be around for several more years, but who's to say something won't replace it some day, and once again I'll find myself attempting to save a keepsake from an older format to a newer one.That's one reason I still make prints from the best of our digital photos. A photo might fade or curl at the ends, but at least it retains a permanence that digital versions may not.The ever-changing world of technology can be frustrating at times, like when formats become obsolete, but it also offers numerous advantages, too. I utilized one of those benefits — the ability to work remotely — Thursday morning while waiting as my car was serviced.When The Dispatch replaced our computer equipment about two and a half years ago, we ordered laptop computers for most newsroom employees. Almost all of us who have laptops use them outside the office. Reporters will often write their stories at various locations in the community with WiFi, such as a restaurant or business, government or school, or even in a car if they have the ability to use their phone for WiFi. We can also work from home when caring for a sick child, or even if we're under the weather but still feel like doing a bit of work.The reporters will email their stories, and I or another editor will put them into our database. But a couple of us have the ability to use a Virtual Private Network on our laptops to actually gain secure access to our network even when away from the office. All it takes is an Internet connection. I used this VPN ability Thursday at the car dealership.I can make adjustments to our website, check email and use a chat program on my laptop without a secure connection. But to edit stories in our database or access photos on the server, I must be connected to our network. And that's where the VPN comes in.While waiting for a technician to complete the service work, not only did I check email and make some changes to our website, I edited several stories in our database. This way coworkers weren't waiting for me to return to the office so they could then lay out a page for the print edition. It was somewhat inconvenient not to arrive in the office until almost 10:30, but at least I was productive while away.One potential drawback to using a laptop almost bit me. I was keeping an eye on my battery usage, but I thought I would have enough power during my time at the dealership. But after almost an hour and a half my computer alerted me the battery was at 7 percent and would soon shut down.I quickly began looking for a power outlet to plug up (fortunately, I remembered to put my power cord in my laptop bag). I found this low-battery warning somewhat ironic, since a coworker and I had joked Wednesday afternoon about his phone charge dropping to a potentially risky level. Sure enough, he shared Thursday that it powered off as he tried to use it when he stopped for gas on his way home.The use of technology has made us better journalists over the years, I believe. We can send information from a remote location and quickly post updates to our website. We can now use video and audio online in addition to still photographs and the written word. While we all get along well, sometimes it's better to be able to write outside the office.Apple Computer is supposedly working on an iWatch device, which would function like a computer and be worn like a watch. Google recently unveiled Google Glass, which allows the wearer to see images, record video, take pictures and more. So perhaps the journalist of the future won't even need a laptop.I just hope the engineers figure out an effective way to power these devices without frequent battery charges. Now that would be a technological leap everyone would applaud.Chad Killebrew is executive editor of The Dispatch. He can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 215, or at chad.killebrew@the-dispatch.com.

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